Advent Calendar House

🎄 It’s the 200th episode of the Advent Calendar House, but more importantly, it’s Christmas Eve! So we’re celebrating with a salute to the last remaining special we have left to talk about in the Rankin/Bass Christmas canon: 1974’s “The Year Without a Santa Claus.” 🎙️ It’s a packed party with Tim Babb, Michael DiGiovanni, Joey O., and Matt Spaulding as we spread Christmas cheer over Southtown and everywhere else — something we could’ve seen Mrs. Claus search for if she hadn’t immediately dropped the idea, but then we wouldn’t have met the true stars of the special: The Miser Bros. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The original story by Phyllis McGinley. A read-along record narrated by Boris Karloff. The DVD menu and only the DVD menu, if that interests you. Snow Miser’s song in “Batman and Robin.” Shirley Booth (Mrs. Claus) as “Hazel.” Today’s TV Tropes: Dressed to Heal, Spinning Paper. Bob McFadden (Elf Doctor) as “Cool McCool.” “Panic In New York: Menagerie Breaks Loose,” and other prop newspaper headlines. Are Santa’s Reindeer Female? (Old Farmer’s Almanac) Survivor Series 1994: Clowns Are Us vs. the Royal Family. Ron Marshall (Iggy’s dad) marks the first time I ended up on Muppet Wiki by surprise. Charlie Chaplin’s hanging out in Southtown. Heatmiser: the band. **** 📼 Commercials: Coca-Cola: “Candles (Buy the World a Coke)” (1977) Coca-Cola: The World Needs More Santas (2023) Matt’s book: “Santa in His Own Words.” “A Bomb for Christmas 2: Past, Present, and Future” on the Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast. **** “The Year Without a Santa Claus” © 1974 Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 Rise and shine while you still can! Since this year’s December Solstice falls on a Sunday, I’ve come bearing the gift of an unexpectedly very merry Scrooge Sunday episode of “Xena: Warrior Princess” from 1996. 🎙️ April Ryley and Sammy Hain join the mission to warm the cold heart of a king who’s banned all Solstice celebrations on an almost wibbly-wobbly timeline that manages to smash together “A Christmas Carol,” the Three Fates of ancient Greek tradition, a Santa Claus origin story, and the Nativity. It even throws in some “Home Alone” style shenanigans, as a treat! 📺 As of this recording, “A Solstice Carol” is available to watch on Prime Video. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Lucy Lawless in “Spider-Man.” “Ebenezer and the Invisible World,” the video game. Moirai: The Three Fates. The Simpsons: “Desperately Xeeking Xena” from “Treehouse of Horror X” (1999) Inside Senticles’s toy closet, and his King Friday XIII lookalike jack-in-the-box. The song: “Solstice Night.” Karl Urban as Cupid in a Valentine’s Day episode. **** 📼 Commercials: 7up: Holiday Celebration (1996) Bad Princess Movies. **** “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “A Solstice Carol” © 1996 MCA Television Limited. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 Fresh from 1996 comes a Christmas tale that’ll make you cry, but only because it’s being told by an onion. 🎙️ Anthony Strand hops along for the ride as we buzz back to the VeggieTales’ first Christmas special, in which the only children’s toy that comes with a working circular saw embarks on a quest to find the true reason for the season. 📺 You can watch the official version of “The Toy That Saved Christmas” for free on YouTube, or the original 1996 version on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Differences between the original and the reanimated version from 1997. “Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus.” “Most folks call ’em green onions, but they’re really scallions.” This Mr. Nezzer is not the previously seen Nebby K. Nezzer, but his brother, Wally P. Nezzer, who’s not as cleverly named. The original vs. the new, improved Bunny Song. The shelves of Buzzsaw Louies predate the shelves of Buzz Lightyears in “Toy Story 2.” Ken Cavanagh (Buzzsaw Louie) may have authored this Medium post from 2020: “Leave Jesus Out of It. Viruses don’t care what you believe.” “The Dead Sea Squirrels,” by Mike Nawrocki. Today’s TV Trope: Blatant Burglar. Doctors in the hallway in “Muppets From Space.” What do you call a group of penguins? Two More Eggs: CGI Palz. **** 📼 Commercials: VeggieTales: “The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree” album (2005) The Incredible, Edible Egg: Wisecracks (1991) Mouse Trap (1990) The Studio Demands It! **** “VeggieTales” and “The Toy That Saved Christmas” © 1996 Big Idea Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 What if Mr. Christmas was on the naughty list this entire time, thanks to a curse on his family for generations? 🎙️ Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas and Guy Hutchinson from Pointless Nostalgia join us on a Christmas quest back to 1985 as Andy Williams leads a dozen “true believers” on a trip to Finland to find Santa and answer for his totally-not-made-up ancestor. 📺 You can watch “Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The NBC Kids are: Soleil Moon Frye, Cherie Johnson, Ami Foster, and Casey Ellison from “Punky Brewster”; Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner from “The Cosby Show”; Alfonso Ribeiro from “Silver Spoons”; and Joey and Matthew Lawrence from “Gimme a Break!” But not Mindy Cohn from “The Facts of Life,” who shows up, sings half a line, and that’s it. Guy visits New York City’s Christmas cinematic landmarks, including locations from “Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream.” Not Just Theo: Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Surprising Career. Alfonso Ribeiro’s Pepsi Commercial with Michael Jackson (1984) The painting supposedly featuring Lars Sven Olaf Williams, from 1863. The Sàmi. “Sea for Catwoman!” Porvoo Cathedral (pronounced like “Borga”). **** 📼 Commercials: NBC “Let’s All Be There” ID with Santa (1985) Polaroid: “Christmas – Santa Claus” (1985) Tinsel Tunes - The Christmas Music Podcast. **** “Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa” © 1985 Pierre Cossette / Barnaby Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🕎 Celebrate Hanukkah with a community talent show we don’t even get to watch. We’ve miraculously found another Hanukkah special — with yet another spelling of it — so join us as we instantly reappear back in 1991 with a bunch of Canadian animal puppets to discover the magic of the holiday Under the Umbrella Tree. 🎙️ April Ryley is our lovely assistant as we meet a humble shopkeeper and former magician once known as “The Great Goldberg,” played by the equally great Harvey Atkin. 📺 As of this recording, you can watch “Hanukah Under the Umbrella Tree” on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Holly Larocque in “The Big Band Broadcast” (2008) Stephen Brathwaite’s (Jacob) artwork portfolio. Bob Stutt (Iggy) as Wander McMooch on “Fraggle Rock.” David Copperfield makes the Statue of Liberty disappear. “Peoples is peoples.” Today’s TV Trope: Magicians Are Wizards. A Star is Borscht: The Harvey Atkin Young Jewish Performer Competition (2022) “Under the Umbrella Tree: The Mask Special” (2020) **** 📼 Commercials: Happy Holidays from “Under the Umbrella Tree” (CBC) Hallmark “Old Friends” Hanukkah Card Commercial (1993) Remember That Show? **** “Hanukah Under the Umbrella Tree” © 1991 Noreen Young Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 It is once again Scrooge Sunday, and the time has come to awkwardly smoosh our spirits through the walls of our bedchamber and float back to 2004 for a special TV movie based on Alan Menken’s musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” starring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge, Jason Alexander as Marley’s Ghost, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Belle, and Jane Krakowski as the Ghost of Christmas Past. 🎙️ Michael May and Rob Graham from After Lunch join the celebration of abundance, charity, and good will toward men as we forge this podcast link by link and dumb joke by dumb joke. 📺 You can watch “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” for free on YouTube. Plus: After this episode, listen to the 3 of us on After Lunch review “A Christmas Carol” on “Shower of Stars” from 1954. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Julian Ovenden (Fred) in “Downton Abbey.” Today’s TV Trope: And You Were There. Jacob Collier (Tiny Tim) on YouTube, including his Grammy-winning arrangement of “The Flintstones” theme. Brian Bedford (Fezziwig) on “Frasier” and as Disney’s Robin Hood. Ebenezer Scrooges Ranked by How Redeemed They Are (FilmHounds, 2024) **** 📼 Commercials: KFC “Christmas with Jason Alexander” (2001) Merry Britsmas. **** “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” © 2004 Hallmark Entertainment Distribution, LLC. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 Your podcast feed or burst! Join us as we dance joyfully back to 1988 for a very special episode of “Perfect Strangers,” in which Balki invites his grouchy boss to a Christmas Eve party, whether Cousin Larry and their co-workers like it or not. 🎙️ Shawn Robare and William Bruce West join the party which, despite IMDb’s summary, is not a “Christmas Carol parody.” If anything, Mr. Gorpley’s the Grinch. And hey, a pre-“Family Matters” Harriette Winslow is here! But why isn’t she with her own children? 📺 As of this recording, “The Gift of the Mypiot” (Season 4, Episode 9) is available for free on Pluto TV. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “The Gift of the Mypiot” on Perfect Strangers Reviewed, and the gift of assswing.gif. This is just 3 episodes before we’d meet Carl Winslow. I guess he was busy this Christmas at Nakatomi Plaza. Kate Finlayson (Allyson) “Dancing the Enneagram.” The mystery of Nora Trueblood Adams. Geraldo opens Al Capone’s vault. Our personal stories of getting the same gift twice and having to play it cool. **** 📼 Commercials: “Perfect Strangers” Cast Christmas Greeting (1988) Circuit City Christmas Sale (1988) WIZARDS The Podcast Guide to Comics. **** “Perfect Strangers” and “The Gift of the Mypiot” © 1988 Lorimar Television. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 Put on your cute little helmet and join us on a journey back to 1984 for a Christmas special based on the toy craze that turned holiday shopping from a winter wonderland to a warzone. 🎙️ Julia (Tis the Podcast) and Steven (The Bigfoot Club) join the adventure from the hidden home of the Cabbage Patch Kids to the unnamed but totally identifiable big city in search of the Christmas spirit, while we evade 2 nearly identical but probably not related trios trying to kidnap us. It’ll all make sense. Actually, no. It will not. 📺 “The Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas” is well preserved on YouTube. Here’s an upscaled version. Watch Steven’s film, “The Bigfoot Club,” on Prime Video. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The totally official, extremely bonkers Legend of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Babyland General Hospital. ‘Custody’ fight over Cabbage Patch dolls (Christian Science Monitor, 1983) Josh Rodine (Dawson Glenn) in “Sparky’s Magic Piano” (1987) Sparky Marcus (Xavier) as Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979) “Kudzu: The Invasive Vine that Ate the South.” Piedmont Park. What idiot took the gay out of “Don we now our gay apparel”? **** 📼 Commercials: Cabbage Patch Kids Talking Phone (1984) Cabbage Patch Kids Hide and Seek Game (1984) **** “The Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas” © 1984 Ruby-Spears Enterprises, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 It’s been 10 years since the Muppets’ 2015 TV series gave us the gift of a Christmas episode, so it’s time to stay Up Late with Miss Piggy and find out if we can take it seriously, or if it left us because we couldn’t stop making jokes about it. 🎙️ Becca Petunia and J.D. Hansel of ToughPigs.com join the chaos including, but not limited to: a rigged Secret Santa! Gross and unhelpful mistletoe strategy! And, of course, Echosmith! 📺 You can find “Single All the Way” on Disney+. Becca’s also on A Prairie Dawn Companion and Here Comes Tomorrow. J.D. is also on The Great Muppet Fandom Panel and Stick to Shorts. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: ToughPigs’ review of “Single All the Way” (2015) The Muppets at Midseason: The Good, the Bad, and the Deadly (ToughPigs.com, 2016) 70 Years, 70 Muppets: Yolanda the Rat and Chip. The Muppets’ a cappella cover of “Cool Kids” by Echosmith. “Bright” by Echosmith. Sam the Eagle’s paintball-themed minigame in “Muppets Party Cruise.” The Swedish Chef is married because one time Steve Whitmire forgot to take off his wedding ring and they just decided it’s canon now. Chip has synesthesia. An extremely rare one-on-one scene with Miss Piggy and Fozzie. **** 📼 Commercials: Pizza Hut “4 for All” Pizza Commercial starring the Muppets (2004) **** “The Muppets” and “Single All the Way” © 2015 ABC Studios / The Muppets Studio. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 If you thought Christmas was fast approaching, hang onto something as we zip back to 1996 and do our best to keep up with Sonic the Hedgehog on a mission to save Christmas. 🎙️ Mike (Bitter Karella) and Ethan (The Hungry Reader) from A Special Presentation, or ALF Will Not Be Seen Tonight join the quest to rescue Santa from the evil Robotnik Claus, obtain the Secret to Ultimate Velocity, and find a gift for Sonic’s girlfriend from another universe. 📺 You can watch “Sonic Christmas Blast” for free on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: How Sonic scored two different animated series at the same time (Polygon, 2020) This specially was originally called “An X-tremely Sonic Christmas” to promote a Sega Saturn game that ended up getting canceled. Jay Brazeau (Santa) as the referee in “Air Bud” who says the line. The robot queen in “The Great Mouse Detective.” “Let the Heartaches Begin” by Long John Baldry (Robotnik). The original “Ugly Sonic” movie trailer. Dr. Robotnik’s in-game design looks like both an Eggman and a walrus. The other cartoon’s theme song. **** 📼 Commercials: Sonic & Knuckles Christmas Elves Commercial (1994) **** “Sonic Christmas Blast” © 1996 DIC Productions, L.P. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 Found under a pile of too many toys, enough for 442 boys, is a little-known gem of a Christmas special from 1993. 🎙️ Chad Young from the Horror Movie BBQ, Jeff Loftin from the Lost Christmas Podcast, and Sean Sotka from ChristmasPodcasts.com join us for the story of Jeremy Creek, a kid so greedy, Santa mistook his list for an entire town’s. Featuring the voices of Dick Van Dyke, Hal Smith, and the kid from “Kindergarten Cop” who gave us an anatomy lesson. 📺 You can find “The Town Santa Forgot” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The original poem: “Jeremy Creek” (Indianapolis Star, 1985) Jeremy Creek (no relation) from the “Smallville” pilot. Miko Hughes (Jeremy) in People magazine (2024): “Kindergarten Cop Child Actor Recalls Working with Arnold Schwarzenegger — and the Origin of That Iconic Line.” Today’s TV Trope: Signs of Disrepair. One of Hal Smith’s final voice acting roles during his lifetime. (He had a posthumous credit in “Zelda’s Adventure.”) Larry Walters has a flying lawn chair and a BB gun. **** 📼 Commercials: NBC Commercial Break during the original 1993 airing of this special, including “The Muppet Christmas Carol” on VHS, and Wendy’s Big Bacon Classic. **** “The Town Santa Forgot” © 1993 Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🎄 “This just in: Santa Claus is dead… or he might as well be, because there’s an even fatter man who’s holding families at nice-point!” ’Tis the Advent Calendar House’s 15th season, so this December’s dozen begins with a similarly titled episode of “The Simpsons” from 2003. 🎙️ Shane Keating from ToughPigs.com, Erin Evans, and Joey O. join the mission to stop being selfish and start being good. 📺 As of this recording, “’Tis the Fifteenth Season” (Season 15, Episode 7) is available on Disney+. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: This episode premiered the day after Saddam Hussein was caught. Marge’s couch gag anime costume: Jun the Swan from “Gatchaman.” “How Low Can DVD Players Go?” (New York Times, 2003) Kathy from Personnel. The Joe DiMaggio rookie card is real. Today’s TV Trope: Art Shift — “Christmas with the California Prunes” and “The Year Santa Got Lost,” animated by the Chiodo Bros. Animaniacs’ 50 State Capitals. Of course I looked up the astrolabe’s coordinates. Convoy, and the cover by Sifl & Olly. Operation: The Simpsons Edition. The first on-screen appearance of Nelson’s mom. The end of “Treehouse of Horror IV.” Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television — and America — Forever, by Alan Siegel. **** 📼 Commercials: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (1991) Butterfinger - The Power Cut (1993) A Bomb for Christmas 2: Past, Present, and Future on the Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast. **** “The Simpsons” and “’Tis the Fifteenth Season” © 2003 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house. Hosted by The Retro Network.

🍍 I’ve hidden a pineapple somewhere in this episode, and if you can find it… you get nothing. Sorry. The Advent Calendar House is back for Christmas Podcast Day. This year, a bunch of your yuletide podcast pals are dropping episodes themed to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and that gave me a premonition to take a closer look at a very merry episode of “Psych” from 2010. 🎙️ Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas joins this examination of our superego, taking the form of renowned actor Tony Cox as himself… kind of. Find more “Wonderful” episodes in the Christmas Podcasts directory. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Psych’s Take on ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Changed Shawn’s Character” (Collider, 2023) Maggie Lawson (Jules) on “Boy Meets World.” Corbin Bernsen (Henry) has a collection of over 8,000 snow globes. Today’s TV Trope: Good Angel, Bad Angel. Keshia Knight Pulliam as Gus’s sitcom wife. Behind-the-scenes photo of dream sequence Jules, Lassie, and Chief Vick. Skyler Gisondo as Young Shawn. The Canadian Motion Picture Park Backlot standing in for the least Miami-looking Miami. Oh, there’s the pineapple. “This Is Christmas” by Curt Smith. **** 📼 Commercials: Corn Pops: “Pops Locked in the Car” commercial starring Dulé Hill (1994) **** “Psych” and “The Polarizing Express” © 2010 Universal Network Television, LLC. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 We wrap up Christmas in July with an old-fashioned scary ghost story. 🎙️ Adam Pope and Donnie Storms join the trip aboard the Mystery Machine back to 1984 for Scooby-Doo’s very first Christmas special, in which the gang tries to save an orphanage with the power of pageantry, and stop the mysterious Ghost of Christmas Never. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries opening was riding the “Thriller” wave. Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue. Mr. Wizard and the Talking Head Illusion. Our experience with Christmas pageants, including some unfortunate elementary school play featuring the song, “Santa Claus, Santa Claus, you are much too fat.” The elf costumes look like Tingle. The Mystery Sleigh! Go-Gurt + Scooby-Doo = Ro-Gurt! Today’s TV Trope: Read the Fine Print. The Scooby-Doo Character Reference Guide. “The PTA has disbanded!” The Little Rascals (1994) boys crash the ballet. Mr. Burns collapses on a sundial after being shot. Scooby Apocalypse. Adam’s stitched Scooby-Doo portrait. **** 📼 Commercials: The Kodak Disc (1984) Remember That Show? **** “The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries” and “The Nutcracker Scoob” © 1984 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🦃 This Thanksgiving in July, I’ve decided to treat y’all to a feast of a special I’ve had tucked away in my memory for decades, but it’s finally time to cross those Bridges. 🎙️ Chad Young and Tommy Coombs hop onto either side of our tractor for a hayride back to 1986 to watch a very special Disney family movie directed by Beau Bridges and featuring 3 generations of his family, along with teenage Jason Bateman and Courtney Thorne-Smith, and an injured goose named Chester. 📺 “The Thanksgiving Promise” is on YouTube with or without commercials. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: We all hung out! TV Guide’s Close Up feature from 1986. “Chester, I Love You,” the original book. “In the Bag” (bump, bump). Beau Bridges in “The Wizard.” Lloyd Bridges as Izzy Mandelbaum on “Seinfeld.” The Christian Cringe podcast on “The Buttercream Gang.” Courtney Thorne-Smith (Sheryl) and Norm MacDonald on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1997). Jason Bateman’s (Steve) turkey costume. The “Gleaming the Cube” chicken scene. Today’s TV Trope: Teetering on the Edge. This Milk PSA with the most forward-thinking bullies ever (circa 1988). McDonald’s put Fievel on a Christmas stocking. “An American Tail” opens with him celebrating Hanukkah. **** 📼 Commercials: Pringles Butter N Herbs (1986) Bingo Bear (1986) Kingdom Chums (1986) “Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story” (1986) McDonald’s: “One-Ups-Man-Ship” (1986) “Gung Ho” TV series promo (1986) Juicy Fruit: Skiing (1985) Nutrasweet ad starring William “Refrigerator” Perry and his daughter (1986) Cool Kids Club Podcast **** “The Thanksgiving Promise” © 1986 The Walt Disney Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Join us for a short spin back to 1993 as I spend 48 minutes blah blah blah yackety schmacketing about Taz’s attempt to spread Christmas cheer. 🎙️ Sammy Hain and Joey O. join us for Summer in December during Christmas in July in a land that’s way under Down Under. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Tasmania was once home to the world’s tallest decorated Christmas tree. John Astin (Bull Gator) in “Return of the Killer Tomatoes.” How the origins of Taz’s creation involve Errol Flynn and the Los Angeles Zoo. Hot Dr. Pepper. Bing Crosby’s Minute Maid Orange Juice Commercials. **** 📼 Commercials: Tornado Taz Plush (1997) Christmas Creeps. **** “Taz-Mania” and “No Time for Christmas” © 1993 Warner Bros. Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 This episode is stuffed with surprises, so get your propeller spinning and take off back to 1987 to go barnstorming — or bearnstorming — above the South Pole with Santabear. 🎙️ Ethan “The Hungry Reader” is our co-pilot as we nosedive into a Midwestern Christmas tradition we wish found a place to land elsewhere. 📺 You can find “Santabear’s High Flying Adventure” on the Internet Archive, or a recording with the original commercials on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Mike on A Special Presentation, or ALF Will Not Be Seen Tonight, for “Poochie” and “The Hugga Bunch Movie.” “Santabear’s First Christmas,” the original book and the 1986 special. IMDb claims Dennis Hopper is in this, but I didn’t hear him. Antarctica’s Christmas Traditions, including a “Race Around the World.” The Odd Case of Dennis the Menace. Today’s TV Trope: Spot the Imposter. What is the history behind the Dayton's Santa Bear? (WCCO-TV, 2022). An official list of every Santa Bear made, 1985–2007 (WDIV-TV, 2023). The Dayton’s Project’s 2024 Santa Bear. **** 📼 Commercials: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Christmas Commercial and Santabear Sweepstakes (1987) Oreos for Santa (1986) Holiday M&M’s (1987) Wild Puffalumps (1987) Doublemint Gum (1987) The Studio Demands It! **** “Santabear’s High Flying Adventure” © 1987 Dayton Hudson Corporation. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Now it’s time for a Muppety holiday fix, so let’s turn the clock back to 1996, to a show I’m excited to reintroduce: it’s “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss.” 🎙️ The Advent Calendar House welcomes 2 of Muppet Wiki’s finest, Tony Whitaker and Shane Keating, to join our Jingle Day pageant. 📺 You can watch “Mrs. Zabarelli’s Holiday Baton” on the Jim Henson’s Family Hub YouTube channel. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Where in the who-heck is the Grinch? “The noozle at the end of the hoose,” (surprisingly not a Dr. Seuss reference). Michael K. Frith on Muppet Wiki. The Muppets on “Family Feud” (2001). Kathy Mullen (Morton) interview with ToughPigs.com (2013). These aren’t Whatnots; they’re Whozits. “Sesame English,” an English as a second language “Sesame Street” series. “Good grief! The comedian’s a bear!” Cindy Lou Who’s on First? Defunctland Podcast: Working in a Wubbulous World with Stephanie D’Abruzzo and Craig Shemin. There’s a rolling drum gag, so here’s the “Emmet Otter” outtake reel again. “You’re the poet laureate of…” Shane and the ToughPigs staff visit the “Sesame Street” set. Shane’s supercut of Gordon from “Sesame Street” saying, “Oh, hi!” **** 📼 Commercials: Hallmark’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Collection (1998) Closer to Christmas. **** “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss” and “Mrs. Zabarelli’s Holiday Baton” © 1996 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎃 This year, Halloween in July has fallen on a Scrooge Sunday, so we’re hitting two holiday tropes with one garbage disposal. 🎙️ Gerry Davila and Brandon Medley join us on a journey back to 1992 to watch Roseanne endure a haunting by the Ghosts of Halloween Past, Present, and Future. 📺 At press time, the episode “Halloween IV” is available on Peacock. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Story Behind Roseanne’s Iconic Chicken Shirt (Decider, 2018). The “Psych” pineapple. October 30th is Mischief Night in New Jersey and, apparently, nowhere else. Elks Lodges lodges are real. Our Halloween costumes from around 1992, and the worst things we’ve gotten while trick-or-treating. Lee Arenberg (Ghost of Halloween Past) in “The Wizard.” Mario Reccuzo (Ghost of Halloween Present) on “California Dreams.” Dan and Jackie’s amazing beheaded Marie Antoinette costume. A background actor is wearing a Pigs in Space costume. **** 📼 Commercials: Walgreens Halloween Decorations (1992) How a Count Eats a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (1990) **** “Roseanne” and “Halloween IV” © 1992 The Carsey-Werner Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Hey, remember the Christmas episode of that show on ABC where Snow White and Prince Charming are transported by the Evil Queen to a land without magic and have to adjust to modern-day America? No, you don’t, because you’re thinking of “Once Upon a Time,” which didn’t have a Christmas episode, which was rude. 🎙️ Kristi and Bri from Bad Princess Movies join us as we go back an even longer time ago to the enchanted year of 1987 to meet The Charmings, who did have a Christmas episode! 📺 You can watch “Yes, Lillian, There Is a Santa Claus” on YouTube, or this VHS-recorded copy with commercials. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: This episode was advertised during the original broadcast of “A Muppet Family Christmas.” The first season’s opening credits explains the backstory. Judy Parfitt (Lillian) as another fairytale queen in “Ever After: A Cinderella Story.” Carol Huston Signs for ‘The Charmings’ (L.A. Times, 1987). The Calgary Castle and the even crazier themed vacation homes being built near me. The Enchanted Forest park in British Columbia. John Astin as the Devil in another episode of “The Charmings.” The “He-Man village” was actually the massive Eternia playset. Tony Steedman (Santa) as Socrates in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Judy Parfitt on the pain of losing her husband (Steedman) to dementia (Daily Mail, 2014). Dick Van Dyke’s Learn Not to Burn hot door PSA. Gordon Ramsay should play Santa. Robert Bork, or: Yes, Virginia, You Can Reject a Supreme Court Nominee. One originally cut episode finally aired on CTV in 2021. **** 📼 Commercials: Masters of the Universe: Eternia Playset (1986) **** “The Charmings” and “Yes, Lillian, There Is a Santa Claus” © 1987 Embassy Communications. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Cowabunga! In nearly 40 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series, 2004’s “The Christmas Aliens” is somehow their only animated Christmas episode. 🎙️ Anthony Strand, Shawn Robare, and Jaime Hood join the ride as we follow Michelangelo and a kitty named Klunk on a Christmas Eve car chase to save a truckload of stolen Little Orphan Alien dolls meant for a group of little orphan human Earthlings, all while Splinter makes a sewer full of guests wait for Mikey to arrive before they eat. 📺 At press time, “The Christmas Aliens” is available on Paramount+. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Read the original 1985 comic on Mirage Studios’ old, preserved website. Our episode on “We Wish You a Turtle Christmas.” The Lost and Unused Theme Songs of the 2003 series. Bruce Wayne’s long dining room table. Similar chase scenes in “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Speed.” Terence Archie (Silver Sentry) as Apollo Creed in “Rocky: The Musical.” Ice Cream Kitty! **** 📼 Commercials: Happy Honda Days: Ninja Turtles, featuring the original 1980s voice cast (2018). WIZARDS The Podcast Guide to Comics. **** “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “The Christmas Aliens” © 2004 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., and Mirage Licensing, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🐰 It’s Easter in July, and those two things together are the least confusing thing about today’s episode. 🎙️ It’s a race across the calendar with Michael May and Sammy Hain as we follow Peter Cottontail through time on his quest to reclaim the title of Chief Easter Bunny from the evil January Q. Irontail, voiced by Vincent Price, in Rankin/Bass’s first non-Christmas holiday special from 1971. 📺 You can find “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” on Tubi, or this restored version on the YouTube channel “The Rankin Bass Archive.” **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “The Easter Bunny That Overslept,” the book, and a read-along video. This special has the same opening as Disney’s “Aladdin.” Vincent Price hosting “Read, Write, and Draw” on The Disney Channel. Jim and Dwight are the worst party planning committee on “The Office.” Patton Oswalt on Easter eggs. Seymour S. Sassafras is probably a Time Lord. Today’s TV Trope: Loophole Abuse. The Halloween segment reuses music from “Mad Monster Party?” Is the title of Chief Easter Bunny always on the line like a 24/7 wrestling championship? Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet. Yosemite Sam attempts to cook hasenpfeffer. The Easter Bunny in Hell in “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey.” This special got a sequel in 2005. **** 📼 Commercials: Cadbury Easter Creme Eggs (1978) FOLCs Forever: A Lois & Clark Rewatch Podcast. **** “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” © 1971 Videocraft International Limited. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 We’re snowed in a bit earlier than expected, so we’ve hunkered down to have a Christmas feast from around the world with the WJM TV family in a 1974 non-Christmas Christmas episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” 🎙️ Joining the party is film critic and author Alonso Duralde, who recommended this episode. A newly Revised and Updated edition of Alonso’s book, “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas,” is being released in September, but you can pre-order it now. You can also find Alonso at The Film Verdict; check out his other book, Hollywood Pride; and listen to Linoleum Knife, Maximum Film, Breakfast All Day, and Deck the Hallmark. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Pre-order the Revised and Updated Edition of “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas.” IMDb’s photo gallery for this episode has 20 screenshots of Mary in a towel. Betty White’s amazing Christmas dress. Harrison Ford recalls what he told George Lucas while shooting the first “Star Wars” movie. I couldn’t find a recipe for “soufflé tour légende,” but here’s one for “Mr. Grant You Took Half Veal Prince Orloff!” Today’s TV Trope: Social Semi-Circle. **** 📼 Commercials: Burger King Gift Certificates Christmas Commercial (1974) Season’s Eatings. **** “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Not a Christmas Story” © 1974 MTM Enterprises, Inc.Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🌴 In Part 2 of our “Futurama” Xmas double-header, we meet the only thing worse than an evil robot Santa… two evil robot Santas. 🎙️ Michael DiGiovanni, Erin Evans, Joey O., and Donnie Storms return for 2001’s “A Tale of Two Santas.” **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Box Car Blues” (1930). Santa’s Death Fortress sure looks like Elsa’s ice palace. Coolio’s final acting role before his death was a return as the voice of Kwanzaa-bot. An ode to Musicmatch Jukebox and our turn-of-the-century mp3 albums we’re still holding onto. My favorite joke in all of “Futurama.” “I’m Spartacus!” **** 📼 Commercials: America Online Keyword: eBay (2001). A Bomb for Christmas: A made-for-podcast Christmas movie featuring your old pal, me. **** “Futurama” and “A Tale of Two Santas ” © 2001 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🌴 The Advent Calendar House has awoken from what feels like a thousand-year slumber and a lame April Fool’s joke. As a peace offering, here’s the first of two back-to-back episodes celebrating Xmas as imagined by “Futurama.” 🎙️ It’s extra crowded in the cryogenic chamber as Michael DiGiovanni, Erin Evans, Joey O., and Donnie Storms drop in for 1999’s “Xmas Story,” in which we’re introduced to the annual tradition of gift-giving and shelter-taking from a killer robot Santa Claus that awaits our descendants in the year 3000. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Fresh Hare” (1942). Orange Cassidy sleeping through his own wrestling match. “Why Chaucer Said ‘Ax’ Instead of ‘Ask,’ and Why Some Still Do” (NPR, 2013). “Why is the number 1,729 hidden in Futurama episodes?” (BBC, 2013). The classic dangling from a clock tower scenes from “Safety Last” and “Back to the Future.” John Goodman’s other appearances as Santa. Randy Johnson hits a bird with a fastball. Corona Extra’s Christmas palm tree commercial. The lyrics to “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” are sinister enough by themselves. **** 📼 Commercials: Hess Truck 1999 Space Shuttle Toy. Stick to Shorts: A Classic Cartoons Podcast. **** “Futurama” and “Xmas Story” © 1999 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🕎 It’s the year 2000, and Christmas and Hanukkah have crossed paths at my doorstep in the form of Santa Claus and his part-Jewish friend… a weird turtle man. 🎙 Becca Petunia and April Ryley join us as we revisit some old Friends in honor of Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah sharing a day on the calendar this year. Plus: An escaped tarantula, a restaurant we may never be allowed in or out of again, and an unforgettable interfaith holiday mascot fit for a new millennium. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: How often does the first night of Hanukkah fall on Christmas? (Vox, 2016) What the ‘Friends’ Holiday Armadillo Episode Gets Right About Interfaith Families (Hey Alma, 2021) The “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” drum roll outtake reel. A transcript including deleted scenes reveals Ben wants Santa to bring him an ant farm. Formication (with an M, y’all), the false sense of feeling like bugs are crawling on you. Halloween Adventure is real and still open. Hoppy the Marvel Bunny. **** 📼 Commercials: AT&T True Savings with David Schwimmer (circa 1996) The Studio Demands It! **** “Friends” and “The One with the Holiday Armadillo” © 2000 Warner Bros. Television. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s Christmas Eve 1986, and the only way Drew Barrymore can save her new friends is to believe in the magic of toys… and Cincinnati. 🎙 Molly Patton, Becca Petunia, and Adam Pope join us for a bonkers adaptation of “Babes in Toyland” from director Clive Donner and starring Drew Barrymore, Keanu Reeves, and Richard Mulligan as a weird, evil guy who lives in a bowling ball. 📺 You can watch “Babes in Toyland” on Tubi, the 3-hour original broadcast with commercials, or the unofficial “Director’s Cut” without ads. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Misfits in Toyland (NSFW), an unrelated horror-comedy webcomic. Keanu Reeves (Jack) on “Going Great” (1985) Googy Gress (Georgie) in “Wayne’s World 2.” Today’s TV Trope: And You Were There. The Cookie Jar House of South Jersey. The Undertaker’s entrance at WrestleMania IX, in the middle of the afternoon. Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (and Tripping Daisy’s cover of theme song). The Toymaster’s Santa coat looks like Belle’s from “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.” Was It Great, or Were You 8? **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s: Recital (1986) Give ’Em All a Little Pat of Butter (1986) TGI Podcast **** “Babes in Toyland” © 1986 The Finnegan Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 2010, and I’m hiding in a closet from a flying shark that ate half my screwdriver. I’ve finally caught up with the timeline of people who have been requesting that I watch the “Doctor Who” Christmas specials. 🎙 Andre Bennett, Jack Ford from the Total Christmas Podcast, and Anthony Strand from ToughPigs.com join me for a twisted take on “A Christmas Carol” starring Michael Gambon in the Scrooge role and the 11th Doctor as at least 2 ghosts of Christmas. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Andre’s review of this episode from 2011. Anthony ranks all of Steven Moffat’s “Doctor Who” episodes. Amy and Rory’s outfits may or may not be but probably are a nod to a similar scene in a 2001 “Only Fools and Horses” Christmas special. Michael Gambon in “Toys,” as the Ultragorgon on Jim Henson’s “Monster Maker,” and as the Ghost of Christmas Present in 2001’s “Christmas Carol: The Movie.” Abigail is basically Nora Fries from Batman. Katherine Jenkins on “Dancing with the Stars.” Danny Horn (Young Adult Kazran) on Bandcamp. Greenland sharks could live for hundreds of years. “Abigail’s Song (Silence Is All You Know)” **** 📼 Commercials: Tesco Christmas Advert: “Mrs. Belcher” (2010) Tinsel Tunes: The Christmas Music Podcast **** “Doctor Who” and “A Christmas Carol” © 2010 BBC. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1970, and a couple of bear cubs have jumped through my window and are eating all my marshmallows. 🎙️ Gerry Davila and Ethan “The Hungry Reader” join us on a deeper than expected dive into a Christmas special by former Hanna-Barbera animator Tony Benedict that almost wasn’t released till the owner of a now-defunct Florida theme park swooped in and saved it. 🚨 No animals were harmed in the making of this podcast. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about one of the 4 versions of this special. 📺 You can watch 4 different versions of “Santa and the Three Bears”: “A Yellowstone Christmas” (Tony’s Version), the original cut. The theatrical version with Hal Smith in the intro and added songs and sequences. The Pirates World version with scenes from Ocean World Marine Park. This version was screened for Rifftrax. The Modern Sound Pictures version with the songs but no live-action segments. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Unusual History of Santa and the Three Bears. (The Delbert Cartoon Report, 2021) The soundtrack and some background info. Hal Smith in “The Incredible, Indelible, Magical, Physical Mystery Trip.” Bobby Riha (Chinook) in Hanna-Barbera’s “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Yellowstone National Park’s Zone of Death. Today’s TV Trope: Human Snowball. CBS Storybreak’s “Grinny.” Homer Simpson tries to catch a rabbit. Iceman in X-Men #1. **** 📼 Commercials: Hardee’s Gift Checks (1970s) Totally Rad Christmas **** “Santa and the Three Bears” © 1970 Tony Benedict Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 2003, and nothing puts me in a festive mood quite like a bar fight. 🎙 Joey O. and James Riley join us for Christmas break with the Justice League — well, most of it. Wonder Woman’s off doing something else, and Batman… you know, smells. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Mike talks “Comfort and Joy” on Tis the Podcast. Paul Dini’s notes on “Comfort and Joy,” including what where Wonder Woman and Batman were. The Shrine of the Silver Monkey from “Legends of the Hidden Temple.” The “Calvin and Hobbes” snowman gallery of horrors. Santa gives Darkseid a lump of coal. Clark and his parents’ cat, Streaky, are this universe’s Jon Arbuckle and Garfield. One of the stuffed animals on Kara’s bed looks like Zook, one of Martian Manhunter’s comic book sidekicks. “Sam, the Guy from Quincy” by the Arrogant Worms (re: Robert Ito as the Japanese toy company CEO). The end of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror IV.” Wild Swamp Thing appeared! Ultra-Humanite is doing a Party Man. A tangent about Oreo cookies, Martian Manhunter’s favorite food. **** 📼 Commercial Break:Burger King: Justice League Kids’ Meal Toys (2003) Oreos for Santa (1986) Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics **** “Justice League” and “Comfort and Joy” © 2003 Warner Bros. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1986, and Santa looks different after arriving late to the mall due to a flat reindeer. 🎙 Joe Fulton, the Christmas Aficionado, joins us for a semi-festive Christmas episode of “Mama’s Family” that will have you believing in either Santa or ghosts at the end of it. 📺 You can watch “Santa Mama” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: A Mama’s Family reunion on “Vicki!” Vicki Lawrence sings “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” Mama’s house was also seen in “Halloween.” Ken Berry (Vinton) as Peter-No-Tail. The cheapest Christmas gifts we got for childhood crushes. The fragility of one-of-a-kind ornaments. “You Are My Sunshine” on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” **** 📼 Commercials: Snuggle Fabric Softener Free Christmas Ornament (1986) Snow in Southtown **** “Mama’s Family” and “Santa Mama” © 1986 Joe Hamilton Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1990, and Santa’s lost in my confusing network of chimneys. 🎙 Adam Parker Sibun from Merry Britsmas join us for a more silly than spooky Christmas special that takes us from Castle Duckula to a concussion-induced space adventure and back. 📺 You can find “A Christmas Quacker” on the Internet Archive (it’s mislabeled as another episode). **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Count Duckula” on Nick Knacks. Count Duckula’s first appearance on “Danger Mouse.” UK Christmas TV, an extensive archive of Christmas TV listings for the UK’s main channels. Jack May (Igor) was the original English voice of Muzzy. The Odd Case of Dennis the Menace: 2 separate comic strip characters with the same name debuting on the same day on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Return to the Turducken Hunger Games. The daydream scene in “Sidekicks.” Mike Oldfield’s “In Dulci Jubilo.” Today’s TV Trope: Blunder-Correcting Impulse. **** 📼 Commercials: Shreddies Cereal: Count Duckula Adventure Scratch & Win Game (1989) Muzzy (circa 1989) **** “Count Duckula” and “A Christmas Quacker” © 1990 Carleton Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 2020, and a gift-wrapped puppy licked my face and made my skin turn blue. 🎙 Michael DiGiovanni and Sammy Hain join us for a charming stop-motion Christmas special from the Chiodo Brothers about how an alien invasion of the North Pole almost ruined Christmas — and the entire planet’s gravity, but also Christmas. Plus: A “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” Easter egg, some cameos from “Elf,” and Santa with nunchucks. 📺 You can find “Alien Xmas” on Netflix. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: A behind-the-scenes interview with the Chiodo Brothers. “Alien Xmas” on Bloody Disgusting. A “Killer Klowns” Easter egg hidden in the Klepts’ chamber of stolen stuff. The magnetic north pole vs. the geographic North Pole. Michelle Deco (Noelle) writes Nintendo trailers, including this one for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. Today’s TV Trope: Tablecloth Yank. “Here’s your problem: Someone set this thing to ‘evil.’” **** 📼 Commercials: Coca-Cola “Santa Packs Are Coming” (1994) Holidays After Dark **** “Alien Xmas” © 2020 Netflix US, LLC. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1982, and I’m trapped at sea while Mickey Rooney butts into everyone’s conversation. 🎙 Guy Hutchinson and William Bruce West join us as we embark on a Christmas cruise aboard the Pacific Princess for a very merry episode of “The Love Boat” featuring Maureen McCormick, Donny Osmond, and Mickey Rooney as an angel in disguise as your nosy neighbor. 📺 You can find “The Christmas Presence” on Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Facebook. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Sesame Street’s Love Boat parody and “Song of Ten.” Guy on the history of the Lacoste Crocodile. “Brady Bunch” references: Maureen McCormick can’t stop getting hit in the face , and Mrs. Brady gets her voice back. What’s in Santa Stubing’s bag: Stadium Checkers, a Jeep Honcho model truck, and more. **** 📼 Commercials: Toys “R” Us featuring the E.T. Atari 2600 Game (1982) Remember That Show? **** “The Love Boat” and “The Christmas Presence” © 1982 The Love Boat Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1988, and the Spirit of Christmas just broke down my bedroom door to say hello. 🎙 Jack Ford from the Total Christmas Podcast joins us for an edition of Scrooge Sunday that turns everyone’s favorite festive tale of redemption on its head and blows it out its enormous, muscular backside as great philanthropist and all-around softy Ebenezer Blackadder learns from watching his ancestors and descendants that it’s good to be bad. 📺 You can watch “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” on Vimeo. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Tony Robinson’s “Christmas Wrapping” and the Total Christmas Podcast episode on it. How have I never heard of humbug candies? “A Merry Messy Kweznuz.” A deleted scene. Miriam Margolyes (Queen Victoria) in “Little Shop of Horrors.” Jim Broadbent (Prince Albert) as Santa in an Aldi Christmas ad. “The Last of Scrooge,” and Jack’s review of it. The cast of “Grange Hill” sings “Just Say No.” Dennis Lill (Beadle) in “Batman” (1989). Spitting Image and “The Chicken Song.” Merry Britsmas on “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.” **** 📼 Commercials: BBC1 Intro to “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” (1988) Barclaycard: “Surveillance” (1995), starring Rowan Atkinson. Festive Foreign Film Fans. **** “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” © 1988 BBC. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 2001, and a rock giant is chasing us across the ocean, which has been entirely frozen over by fairies with minty fresh breath. 🎙 Kristi and Bri from Bad Princess Movies join us for Barbie’s first feature-length movie, from the makers of “ReBoot” and Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” music video, complete with motion capture of the New York City Ballet, revolutionary hair animation, and Tim Curry as an extra sassy Mouse King. 📺 You can watch “Barbie and the Nutcracker” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Barbie in the Nutcracker” on Bad Princess Movies. Motion capture footage of the New York City Ballet. Oops, we went on multiple Zelda tangents about Majora’s Mask and the Song of Storms. It’s usually not a good sign when you find a doll on the ground in a destroyed village. Of course there’s a toy of Marzipan the horse (no relation to the Marzipan with the answering machine). Today’s TV Trope: Literal Cliffhanger. Do the Great Lakes freeze over? Mod Hair Ken and his stick-on facial hair. Barbie eyes new horizons (BBC News, 2001) **** 📼 Commercials: Barbie in the Nutcracker My Size Sugarplum Princess (2001) “A Very Zelda Christmas,” by DarkNuck, on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. **** “Barbie in The Nutcracker” © 2001 Mattel, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1984, and Santa’s in front of a firing squad because his executioner didn’t appreciate the socks he got last Christmas. 🎙 Shawn Robare and Steven join us as the slime is in an extra festive shade of green for a Christmas episode of the show that defined Nickelodeon’s early years, featuring an all-star cast of the 5 most featured kid actors of “You Can’t Do That on Television.” 📺 You can watch the episode “Christmas” on Facebook. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Shawn’s piece of the Prevert Family’s living room wallpaper. Nick Knacks on “You Can’t Do That on Television.” Mike and Steven pitch their ideas for a sequel to “Santa Claus: The Movie” on SequelQuest (2020) “UFO Kidnapped,” a TV pilot featuring much of the same cast of kids. Les Lye as Professor Coldheart in “The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings.” How we’ve fielded the question of Santa’s one-night flight. Abby Hagyard (Mom) on YouTube. Ice Cream Dolls, The Visible Man, and the G.I. Joe Motorized Battle Tank. Calvin and Hobbes makes the same “Santa wants beer” joke. **** 📼 Commercials: “You Can’t Do That on Television” Green Slime Shampoo (circa 1987) The Lost Christmas Podcast. “A Very Zelda Christmas,” by DarkNuck, on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. **** “You Can’t Do That on Television” © 1984 Carleton Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 The Advent Calendar House is back in time for a freakin’ country bear jamberoo as a family of Muppet mice risk their lives to bring home the top of the top of the top of the top of a Christmas tree fit for an eccentric future Iron Man. 🎙 Anthony Strand from ToughPigs.com and Tim Babb from the Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast join us for a waltz back to 1995 as Robert Downey Jr. may or may not be holding Kermit the Frog hostage until he gets his perfect Christmas tree. Plus: Shy butler Leslie Nielsen, homesick Swedish maid Stockard Channing, and a pre-Bobo Bobo the Bear! 📺 We watched this 1995 broadcast of “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree,” with 1995 commercials. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” on Muppet Wiki. The original book. An odd TV promo featuring Brian Cummings’ Kermit the Frog impression. Kermit and Miss Piggy’s music video of “She Drives Me Crazy,” featuring Leslie Nielsen. Movin’ Right Along talks Kermit: Unpigged. The Sesame Street Muppets on “The West Wing” with Stockard Channing. Mama and Papa Bear are Beth from “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and the future Bobo from “Muppets Tonight.” “Jim Henson’s Animal Show” on Owls… and Humans. Sandra Bullock plays the glass harp in “Miss Congeniality.” An Oreo commercial where a mall Santa takes off his beard way too quickly. **** 📼 Commercials:Dizzy Grizzlies and Ritz Air Crisps (1995) “Santa in His Own Words,” a book by Matt Spaulding.**** “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” © 1995 Jim Henson Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1992, and there’s no such thing as Buster Bunny. 🎙 Adam Pope, William Bruce West, and Chad Young help the Advent Calendar House wrap up Christmas in July with the unofficial series finale of “Tiny Toon Adventures,” when Buster wishes he’d never been on the show, and the horrors within Montana Max’s Biff Tannen Pleasure Palace or whatever. 📺 I found this special hiding in a 4-hour Christmas special compilation on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Meet the Tiny Toons” in the special edition magazine “Bugs Bunny: He’s 50, Folks” (1990). “The Chipmunks Go to the Movies.” Tony Pope (God) as Goofy in “Watch Out for Goofy” (the theme song for Adam’s 2 Goofs Podcast) and as the first voice heard in “Back to the Future.” John Kassir (who voices Buster in this episode) as the Crypt-Keeper in RD’s Retro Detention Halloween Specials in 2019 and 2023. Today’s TV Trope: Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal. Jacoby & Meyers and a 2-minute-long tangent about personal injury lawyer commercials. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s upcoming role as Santa in “The Man with the Bag.” American Express Commercials with Mel Blanc and Jim Davis. Bugs Bunny may have been voiced by an uncredited Noel Blanc, Mel’s son, for a single line at the end. **** 📼 Commercials: Godzilla: The Series Promo (1998) Toy Story: Holiday TV Spot (1995) **** “Tiny Toon Adventures” and “It’s a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special” © 1992 Warner Bros. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1990… or 1962… and a quantum physicist forgot to powder his boss’s underwear. 🎙 Erin Evans and Joey O. join us for a Scrooge Sunday involving time travel of a different sort as we follow Dr. Sam Beckett on a mission to save a mission, and the soul of the man trying to tear it down. 🚨 Warning: This episode briefly discusses the death of actor Charles Rocket and the would-be death of his Scrooge-like character, Michael Blake. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Episode guide on Al’s Place. A Christmas story from the Quantum Leap comic: “He Knows If You’ve Been Bad or Good.” Charles Rocket drops an F-bomb on “Saturday Night Live.” “Bringing in the Sheaves” on “The Simpsons” and “Batman” (1966). Polish Christmas desserts piernik and makowiec. Al’s Ghost of Christmas Future costume looks more like Jacob Marley mixed with the Ghost of Christmas Past from “Scrooged.” Goldie Wilson III from “Back to the Future Part II.” **** 📼 Commercials: Squarbles (circa 1987) Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast. **** “Quantum Leap” and “A Little Miracle” © 1990 Universal City Studios, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🦃 It’s 2015, and in my search for a noisy cryptid I accidentally freed 175 roided-up turkeys, but neither of those things is the real monster. 🎙 Sammy Hain, Tony Whitaker, Ethan “The Hungry Reader” join us as we rediscover a long lost Thanksgiving special concept Jim Henson dreamed up in the 1960s and meet the Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow. 📺 You can find “Turkey Hollow” on Disney+. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: ToughPigs.com Behind the Scenes of Turkey Hollow. Muppet Wiki on this special, Jim Henson’s original concept, and the 2014 graphic novel. Some prototype musical monsters: An early Grover, Snerf, and the Rock and Roll Monster. Director Kirk Thatcher in “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.” On-set interviews with Ludacris, Lisa Henson, and Alice Dinnean. Hope you like Beets. Today’s TV Tropes: When You Coming Home, Dad? and Hollywood Law. Station from “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey.” “Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge.” Jason Hopley’s (Zorp) IMDb profile picture is from “Goosebumps.” Lewis, Target’s Halloween Ghoul. Homer Simpson eating potato chips on the space shuttle. **** 📼 Commercials: AT&T “Turkey” Commercial (2008) TGI Podcast. **** “Turkey Hollow” © 2015 The Jim Henson Company, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1992, and my daydreams of snow are melting into a bucket of water getting dumped on my head from an airplane. 🎙 Kit Quinn, Randee Martin, and Tyler Green from Channel KRT join us as we dive down the rabbit hole to the strange world of The Disney Channel’s “Adventures in Wonderland,” where the White Rabbit wears Rollerblades and the halls are decked with fresh produce, the way Christmas was meant to be celebrated. 📺 You can find “Christmas in Wonderland” on Disney+, or this copy with a commercial bumper in front of it. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Channel KRT on the episodes “Pie Noon” and “Wonderland: The Movie.” “White Rabbits Can’t Jump,” an unaired episode guest starring O.J. Simpson. One Movie Later: Alice Through the Looking Glass. Deadline’s obituary for Armelia McQueen (The Red Queen) uses a photo from this special. Armelia McQueen on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and… “The Fesh Pince of Blair.” Patrick Richwood (White Rabbit) lied to the casting director about knowing how to rollerblade. Cast members on The Tiara Talk Show. The Christmas Pickle. Harry Waters Jr. (Tweedle Dee) in “Back to the Future,” and Wesley Mann (Caterpillar) in “Part II.” **** 📼 Commercials: Disney Channel Holiday Preview Bumper with Jane Seymour (1992) Juicy Fruit Skiing Commercial (circa 1989) Cool Kids Club, a nostalgia-filled trip back to childhood. **** “Adventures in Wonderland” and “Christmas in Wonderland” © 1992 The Walt Disney Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1988, the monsters under my bed are real, and they’re stealing Christmas. 🎙 Ethan “The Hungry Reader” follows us under the covers through a wormhole to the home of ’80s kids’ bedding sensation the Pillow People in a Christmas special so obscure, it’s not even listed on IMDb. But it’s real, and it’s ironically nightmarish. 📺 You can watch “Pillow People Save Christmas” on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Pillow People on the toy collectors’ website Ghost of the Doll. Toot Sweet Toys, or what’s left of it. TV listing in New York magazine (November 1988) Victor DiMattia (Billy) on filming “The Sandlot.” Window Rattler as seen on “Full House.” The Who Cares Bears. Today’s TV Trope: Introdump, example: the worst Rob Liefeld drawing. Cheryl Chase (Sweet Dreams) mentions working with Cree Summer (Rock-a-Bye Baby) on this special in a 2004 interview about the “Rugrats” spinoff “All Grown Up.” The Far Side: “…He’s taking it with him!” Nightmara looks like a cross between Mother Brain in “Captain N: The Game Master” and Madam Hecuba from the 1974 anime adaptation of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” **** 📼 Commercials: Pillow People: Pillow Valley Commercial (1988) Holidays After Dark. **** “Pillow People Save Christmas” © 1988 TMS Entertainment, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎃 It’s 1986, and one student at a magical boarding school is struggling to fit in while having to deal with a hard-nosed potions teacher and bullying from a golden child whose father will hear about this, but finds comfort in broom flying and encouragement from the kindly old headmaster. No, not that one. 🎙️ Becca Petunia and Lindy Kempe join us for “The Worst Witch,” adapted from the original beloved series of books about a quirky boarding school for witches. This Halloween special stars a young Fairuza Balk, featuring Dianna Rigg, Charlotte Rae in a dual role, and Tim Curry in the trippiest ’80s music video. 📺 You can watch “The Worst Witch” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Find “The Worst Witch” book at your local library. St. Michael’s College is for sale. Pam Jones (Donna) — formerly Kate Buckley before another actress took that name while she was on hiatus — is now a ceramic artist. The kitten ceremony background music sounds kind of like Zelda’s Lullaby. Mildred and Ethel’s rivalry gave us “Owl House” vibes. Toonces the Driving Cat. One student is a future Teletubby! Becca on Movin’ Right Along discussing Tim Curry singing in “Muppet Treasure Island.” Both Tim Curry and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” sing “begin the Beguine.” Tim Curry in “Red Alert 3.” Other “Worst Witch” TV adaptations, including a college spinoff and a Netflix series. **** 📼 Commercials: Carvel Halloween Ice Cream Cakes Commercial (1986) Hyrule Podcasters, an audio “Let’s Play” through The Legend of Zelda. **** “The Worst Witch” © 1986 Central Independent Television Plc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1977, and the cast of Broadway’s hottest new musical is taking drastic measures to convince 4 different unions keep the theater open for a Christmas party because they forgot to book a venue. 🎙️ Guy Hutchinson joins us to watch the original Broadway cast of “Annie” play somethings in between themselves and their characters in a unique TV Christmas special that may very well have been many TV viewers’ first exposure to the musical. 📺 You can watch “The Annie Christmas Show” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The original Broadway version of “Annie” ends on Christmas; the 1982 movie ends on the 4th of July. Andrea McArdle in “Christmas at Walt Disney World.” (Full Episode) Danielle Brisbois (Molly) in “All in the Family,” and she was a founding member of the band New Radicals. “It’s Christmas” on the Annie 30th Anniversary Production Cast Recording, featuring multiple Annies and Miss Hannigans. “I Don’t Care” in “In the Good Old Summertime” and “Back to the Future: The Game.” “There’s a Broken Heart for Every Light on Broadway” in “Bullets Over Broadway.” Today’s TV Trope: I Have a Family. Ethel Merman sings “Tomorrow” in “A Special Sesame Street Christmas.” (Full Episode) How The Twelve Days of Christmas’ days 9 through 12 got reordered. Members of the cast reunited in 2019 to perform this Christmas special. **** 📼 Commercials: Kinney Shoes (1977) Fotomat (1977) Festive Foreign Film Fans. **** “The Annie Christmas Show” © 1977 Martin Charmin Productions / NBC Universal Network. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1981, and a jolly swagman who may or may not be Santa Claus is flying me around the world in a sleigh built out of a bench and some rope we had lying around to search the globe for a lost baby kangaroo. Today’s Christmas in July episode begins where it’s actually winter in July, and only gets stranger and more inappropriate from there. 🎙 Dan MacPherson joins us for “Around the World with Dot,” also known as “Dot and Santa Claus,” starring the title character from an 1899 Australian children’s book, “Dot and the Kangaroo.” 📺 You can find “Around the World with Dot” on YouTube. You may want to watch “Dot and the Kangaroo” first. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Director Yoram Gross endured World War II in Poland; his family was on Schindler’s list. His studio, now Flying Bark Productions, more recently animated “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and Marvel’s “What If…?” Barbara Frawley (Dot) singing “The Black Cat” on “Play School.” Today’s TV Trope: Magical Homeless Person. “Sakura Sakura,” which I recognized from Punch-Out!! How a White Lie Gave Japan KFC for Christmas. (Gastro Obscura) “The Real World of the Circus” opens similarly to the movie “Chaplin.” “Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon.” “Alouette” is about plucking the feathers off a lark. **** 📼 Commercials: Mortein “Louie the Fly” Commercial (1980s) Myer “Celebrate Christmas” Commercial (1980s) Bad Princess Movies. **** “Dot and the Kangaroo” © 1981 Yoram Gross Filmstudio Pty Ltd. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🐰 It’s 2004, and a stuffed toy rabbit voluntold me to clean his house. 🎙 Sammy Hain and Matt Spaulding join us to celebrate both Easter in July and Scrooge Sunday with a trip to the Hundred Acre Wood as Rabbit does double duty as both the Easter Bunny and Scrooge, all while Christopher Robin is somewhere else entirely. 📺 You can find “Springtime with Roo” on Disney+. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Ads from the 2004 DVD, plus a video of some dude walking through the menu screen. Why do Christopher Robin’s toys have American accents? John Fiedler (Piglet) in “The Golden Girls” and “12 Angry Men.” “Christmas in the Stars,” the Star Wars Christmas album. **** 📼 Commercials: Sears Video Game Arcade Christmas Sale (1983) **** “Winnie the Pooh” and “Springtime with Roo” © 2004 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1983, and my emotional support jack-in-the-box is not providing much help for my Imposter Syndrome. 🎙️ Tommy Coombs, Jayme Kilsby, and Chad Young join us for a deep dive into another pre-ALF puppet special from Paul Fusco starring a very depressed elf in training trying to find where he belongs in Santa’s workshop by first finding everywhere he doesn’t belong. Plus: Santa’s Swedish Chef-like human hands! A three-eyed purple teddy bear we never get to see! Paul Fusco inserting himself into his own Christmas fan fiction! 📺 You can watch “Santa’s Magic Toy Bag” on Tubi. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Sherman looks like A Gnome Named Gnorm. The hot dog puppet from “Funland.” The History of the Nickelodeon Hotel (Defunctland) The keeper of Santa’s Magic Toy Bag reminds me of the presidential designated survivor. Superman impales some jerk’s truck on a telephone pole in “Man of Steel.” Cracked: We Ruined Santa With Math. **** 📼 Commercials: Sears Video Game Arcade Christmas Sale (1983) The Studio Demands It! **** “Santa’s Magic Toy Bag” © 1983 Imagicom Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1979, and an evil king is having abandonment issues after his entire kingdom left, so he made an army of robots instead of going to therapy. The Advent Calendar House has once again emerged from hibernation after declaring 4 more months of winter to pretend it’s still winter. 🎙 Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas, Matt Spaulding from North Pole Radio, and Jeff Loftin from the Lost Christmas Podcast join us as we encounter what might be the least Christmassy Rankin/Bass Christmas special, featuring a friendlier version of Jack Frost, a groundhog dressed like a pro wrestling manager, and the wintry weather neighbors of those angels your grandmother told you were bowling whenever there was a thunderstorm. 📺 You can watch “Jack Frost” on Tubi. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Toei Animation’s “The Little Mermaid” (1975) Gilbert Gottfried on his favorite death scene: Buddy Hackett as Lou Costello in “Bud and Lou.” Today’s TV Trope: Inevitable Waterfall. The Christmas tradition of “dream presents” is like the dinner scene from “Hook.” February 2 is Candlemas, the 40th day of Christmas. **** 📼 Commercials: Pennsylvania Lottery: Like Holiday Morning, starring Gus, the 2nd most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania (2018) Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Hedgehog Day (1992) **** “Jack Frost” © 1979 Rankin/Bass Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

Let’s all go to the taco show! The Advent Calendar House has awoken early from its long winter’s nap to take the Leap Year challenge as prescribed by Dr. Frasier Crane on one unseasonably warm February morning in 1996. 🎙 Erin Evans and Joey O. get dressed up in buttons and boys to look into the “Frasier” cast’s Christmas connections, explore the world of complicated opera solos and bad Western ballads, and call in to a PBS pledge drive to try and talk to Big Bird. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Kelsey Grammer in “Mr. St. Nick” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve.” Our adventures on the mid-1990s internet, when it was All About the Pentiums. “Frasier” episodes ranked on Variety, Frasier Online, and Thrillist. “When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold” from “The Pirates of Penzance,” in which Leap Day becomes a plot point. Oleg Cassini and the worst title card gag. KACL is a real radio station, but not in Seattle. “Rigoletto” and the aria “Ella mi fu rapita / Parmi veder le lagrime.” Kelsey Grammer sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Philadelphia. “Buttons and Bows,” as sung by Bob Hope in “The Paleface” and by Leap Day baby Dinah Shore. Adam “Edge” Copeland talks “Money Plane” on Hey! (EW). **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s “Morning Break” Commercial starring Kelsey Grammer (1995) Remember That Show? **** “Frasier” and “Look Before You Leap” © 1996 Paramount Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.